FLOOD: Rivers Distributes Seedlings, Relief Materials

Rivers State Flood Relief Committee yesterday distributed
seedlings to communities across the local government areas affected by the
recent flood disaster in the state.

Chairman of the committee and Deputy Governor of the state,
Engr. Tele lkuru, handed the seedlings and relief materials over to the
chairmen of Abua/Odual, Mr. Udi Odum, Ahoada East, Chief Cassidy Ikegbidi,
Ahoada West, Mr. Awori Miller, and Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Mr. Raymond Nwokocha,
respectively at the council secretariat, Ahoada.

Speaking at the event, Engr. Ikuru stated that 34, 000
bundles of cassava stems, 30,000 plantain suckers, 30,000 banana suckers,
20,000 seedlings of yam, 1,052 bags of rice, 1,000 bags of garri, 1,640 pieces
of mosquito nets, amongst other relief materials, were given to the people,
explaining that the current administration deems it necessary to intervene with
a view to ameliorating the plight of the victims of the flood disaster.

The Deputy Governor noted that the post-flood era was more
difficult for the people, stressing that many of them had lost their means of
livelihood, He pointed out that while the relief materials were aimed at
supporting the victims presently, the seedlings were for them to start planting
at once to reap in no distant time, assuring that government would continue to
assist the people to resettle to their normal lives.

Speaking, the state Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr.
Dickson Omunakwe, said the gesture was state government’s response to the cry
of the victims regarding the hardship they are facing, noting that the state
government thought it wise to provide the seedlings to enable them go back to
farming, assuring of the government’s continued support for the flood victims.

Responding on behalf of the affected communities, the
Chairman of Abua/Odual Local Government Area, Mr. Udi Odum, thanked Governor
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi for the gesture, acknowledging that the intervention
was timely, promising that the people would effectively utilise the seedlings
to resume their farming activities.

Also responding on behalf of the affected communities, the
Paramount Ruler of Akinima, Ahoada West Local Government Area, Eze Dimkpa Mazi,
expressed delight with the seedlings and relief materials from the committee,
commending Governor Amaechi, his Deputy, Engr. Ikuru, and the flood relief
committee for coming to their aid.